Mayor Detweiler to continue to serve as Council leader, Moritz to KHPC

Monday

Apr 8, 2013 at 7:23 PMApr 9, 2013 at 11:35 AM

The Kirksville City Council certified the election results and elected Richard Detweiler as mayor; newcomer Glen Moritz to get chance to guide historic preservation

Taylor Muller/@TaylorMullerKDE

Meet the new mayor. Same as the old mayor.

Mayor Richard Detweiler will continue to serve as the face of Kirksville with the incumbent as well as fellow newly-elected Glen Moritz taking their seats Monday on the City Council following last week's Municipal Election.

Detweiler was unanimously elected to serve as the city's mayor, a mostly ceremonial and organizational title, and Council member Jerry Mills was elected as mayor pro tem during the short Council meeting Monday night to certify the election results.

Following recognition of outgoing Council member Tony Fajkus, who did not seek re-election the last week's race citing personal time constraints, Detweiler secured the mayoral position with a nomination by Mills and a second by Council member Roger Edge.

"It's an unbelievable confidence and good feeling that people trust my abilities to help manage the city," Detweiler said after the meeting.

"I appreciate that trust and will do everything in my power to help and do it right the first time."

New to the Council, Moritz was also selected to replace Fajkus on the Kirksville Historic Preservation Commission. He said he believed service on the commission would allow him the opportunity to guide and develop a cohesive downtown district.

"That's where I feel most comfortable given my experience," Moritz said after volunteering to serve on the commission.

Moritz, referencing one of his campaign platforms, said he believed more could be done on creating a positive environment downtown and "getting away from the status quo."

Moritz had voiced an interest in serving on the city's Tourism Board, but Council elected to retain Sheila Pruett in that position, with Detweiler telling Moritz, "We'll approve it as is right now and we'll find something for you Glen."

Fajkus will also retain his chair position on the Tax Increment Financing District Corporation.